Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-23
The Bill to Recover Taxes and Other Dues
for Which Coupons Are rendered.

The Bill to Recover Taxes and Other Dues
for Which Coupons Are rendered.
The bill to recover taxes for which eou-
pens are rendered, referred to in the mes
sage Of Governor Lee, published in full on
the first page, was, on last Thursday, in
PRODUCED in the House of Delegates by Mr..
Pollard and in the Senate by Mr.. Koiper,
and in each case referred to the committee
on Finance. The purpose and character Of
the bill is indicated by its FIRST section which
reads as follows
Ali taxes, including taxes on licenses. now
due or which may hereafter become due to
| the Commonwealth in payment of which
any paper or instrument purporting to be a
| coupon, detached from bond of this State.
shall have been or may hereafter be tender.
ed and not accepted as payment, and not
| otherwise paid, may be recovered in the
Circuit Court having Jurisdiction ever the
county or corporation in which said taxes
4 shall have been assessed; or if the tender
was made to the Auditor of Public Accounts
in payment of taxes which he is authorized
by law to receive, the said taxes NAV be re-
covered in the Circuit Court of the CITY Of
Richmond.
1t will be in force from the date of it,
passage.
This bill, says the Dispatch, proceeds up.
on the fact that Coupen-K Killer No. is CON.
stitutional (for.the United Estates Supreme
Court has SO declared), and that measure
requires that every coupon offered for taxes
before it shall be received shall frst be
proved genuine.
The law now gives the State lien fol-
unpaid taxes; but this proposed bill goes
very much further. 1t gives not only lien
for the taxes, but for the costs, and execu-
ton can be sued cut on it, and that will be
lien upon the personal property Of every
defendant against whom judgment is rem
dsred. The expense of jury will be $12
in each case, and it will be charged against
the defendant, no matter how the judgment
goes. If judgment GO against him, tax OF
$40 will be added as fee for the Common
wealth's attorney, while the State will be
at no expense at all.
This bill, it is believed, is not liable to re-
view and amendment by the United States
courts.
1t has been carefully examined by ex-
Judge E. G. Burks, ex-Judge Waller R.
Staples, Hon. John Randolph Tucker, and
several other lawyers ofeqaal standing with
These suits will be brought in the name
Of the Commonwealth, SO there will be no
opportunity for hair-splitting in the United
States courts as to whether the State is
sued when her officers are sued.
ANOTHER DEBT MEASURE.
AS tending in the same direction, Mr..
Pollard also introduced the following, which
was likewise referred to the Finance Com
mittee:
Be 1T enacted by the General Assembly of
| Firginid, 1. That if any officer of this State
receive Except for Identification and veri6-
cation) any paper or instrument purporting
to be coupon detached from bond of
this State for any taxes, debts, dues, or de-
mands due the State, until the same shall
have been verified in the mode prescribed
by law, he shall be deemed guilty Of a mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction shall be
fined for each offence not less than one hun
dred nor more than one thousand dollars.
| 2. This act shall be in force from its pass
age.
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN ROCKING
HAM.-The Republican County Committee
Of Rockingham have issued call for a
county convention to be held in Harrison
burg on Saturday, April 9th, for the pur.
pose Of nominating candidates for the May
election. The district officers will be nom-
mated by district meetings ON April Ord,
The Harrisenburg correspondent of the
Dispatch says
"There is much feeling between the as.
pirants, and, after much worry. it seems it
has been concluded that convention is the
only way out of the trouble"
CATHOLIC UNIvERsITY.-On Monday,
the Pope of Rome approved the plan of the
new Catholic University which is to be
located in Washington city. The Institu-
ton will be forever under the sole jurisdic-
ton of the American hierarchy. Already
| over half million dollars have been sub
scribed by comparatively few Catholics
in the United States, Including gift Of
$500, 900 frem Miss Caldwell. The est.
mated cost of the university when com.
pleted is SIS, COO, 600.
The Winchester Meas recommends the
business men of that town to organize a
Board of Trade. This is wise suggestion,
as proper organization Of that character
| might be of great service to that town, al
the Chamber of Commerce is to this city.
Our citizens now appreciate the value Of
the Chamber Of Commerce, though at first
some were disposed to discourage its estab-
| lishment.
Nor BLIND.-In answer to recently
| published statement that Mrs. Margaret J.
Preston, the poetess, had lost her eyesight,
that lady writes to friend in Alexandria,
Va: 81 am not blind, and through Gods
good providence hope to retain my vision
for all ordinary purposes, though am for.
hidden by my oculist in Philadelphia, to
use my eyes at all for literary work"
SALARIES OF JUDGEs.-In opposing the
Senate bill to increase the salaries of the
Judges, Mr.. Koiner took the ground that
the State was too Impoverished now to
stand the increase, and held substantially
that person could live on less money now
than he coald few years ago.
Messrs. Mccormick, Wiekham, and eau.
sey advocated the measure.
Will some one explain why it is that the
roar of an earthquake is heard before the
shock is felt. Do not the earthquake
waves travel faster than the waves of sound
in the air; and, if they do, how is it that
the sound is heard before the earthquake
wave ia felt?